Internet Protocol television (IPTV), also called TV over broadband, is the service delivery of television over Internet Protocol (IP) networks. Usually sold and run by a telecom provider, it consists of broadcast live television that is streamed over the Internet (multicast) — in contrast to delivery through traditional terrestrial, satellite, and cable transmission formats — as well as video on demand services for watching or replaying content (unicast).
Definition and Core Concept
Historically, many different definitions of IPTV have appeared, including elementary streams over IP networks, MPEG transport streams over IP networks and a number of proprietary systems. One official definition approved by the International Telecommunication Union focus group on IPTV (ITU-T FG IPTV) is:
IPTV is defined as multimedia services such as television/video/audio/text/graphics/data delivered over IP-based networks managed to provide the required level of quality of service and experience, security, interactivity and reliability.
Another definition of IPTV, relating to the telecommunications industry, is the one given by Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions (ATIS) IPTV Exploratory Group in 2005:
IPTV is defined as the secure and reliable delivery to subscribers of entertainment video and related services. These services may include, for example, Live TV, Video On Demand (VOD) and Interactive TV (iTV). These services are delivered across an access agnostic, packet switched network that employs the IP protocol to transport the audio, video and control signals.
How IPTV Works
IPTV is a video-streaming technology that delivers television programs over the internet. IPTV provides television content using the internet protocol suite instead of being delivered through traditional terrestrial, satellite signal, or cable television formats.
IP-based television allows for a more customized experience for users. It also enables service providers to offer more features such as video on demand (VOD), interactive applications, and games. In addition, IPTV can be integrated with other types of broadband services, such as internet telephony and data over cable service (DOCSIS).
Also called “TV over IP,” IPTV refers to streaming scheduled and video-on-demand (VOD) TV programs using the IP protocol. Beginning in the 1990s, IPTV was offered by several companies, but the content did not necessarily stream from the Internet. Telephone companies offered IPTV over DSL lines.
IPTV vs Traditional Television
IP-based TV is delivered like a Web page. When a subscriber wants to view an IPTV channel, that channel is routed to the user’s set-top box just like a Web browser retrieves a specific Web page. In contrast, traditional cable TV and satellite services transmit hundreds of channels simultaneously, and the set-top box/receiver connected to the TV allows the user to extract (tune in) one channel at a time.
With cable or satellite TV, broadcasters send out signals and viewers receive them—you’re only able to watch what’s being broadcasted. IPTV is different. Instead of transmitting content via light pulses in fiber-optic cable or radio waves from a satellite, IPTV sends shows and movies through your standard internet connection.
Historical Development
Up until the early 1990s, it was not thought possible that a television programme could be squeezed into the limited telecommunication bandwidth of a copper telephone cable to provide a video-on-demand (VOD) television service of acceptable quality, as the required bandwidth of a digital television signal was around 200 Mbit/s, which was 2,000 times greater than the bandwidth of a speech signal over a copper telephone wire. VOD services were only made possible as a result of two major technological developments: motion-compensated DCT video compression and asymmetric digital subscriber line (ADSL) data transmission.
The term IPTV first appeared in 1995 with the founding of Precept Software by Judith Estrin and Bill Carrico. Precept developed an Internet video product named IP/TV. IP/TV was an Mbone compatible Windows and Unix-based application that transmitted single and multi-source audio and video traffic, ranging from low to DVD quality, using both unicast and IP multicast Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP) and Real time control protocol (RTCP).
Telecommunications company US West (later Qwest) launched an IPTV service called TeleChoice in Phoenix, Arizona in 1998 using VDSL technology, becoming the first company in the United States to provide digital television over telephone lines.
Benefits of IPTV Services
An IPTV service offers several benefits for those looking to improve their property. The most apparent use is receiving television channels without needing a satellite dish or cable box. This can save you both time and money, as you will no longer need to pay installation or equipment rental fees.
Additionally, an IPTV connection usually provides a clearer picture than a traditional cable or satellite, using your home’s existing broadband internet connection. This also means you can watch TV on any compatible device connected to your network, including smartphones, tablets, and laptops.
Access to a Wide Variety of Content
IPTV offers thousands of live TV channels, movies, and series from around the world, covering genres like sports, news, entertainment, and international channels.
On-Demand Viewing
IPTV allows you to watch content whenever you want, rather than following a fixed broadcast schedule, making it a flexible option for busy viewers.
High-Quality Streaming
IPTV services often provide high-quality streams in HD or even 4K, ensuring a superior viewing experience without interruptions or poor quality.
Multi-Device Compatibility
IPTV works on smart TVs, computers, tablets, and smartphones, giving you the freedom to watch on multiple devices, even when on the go.
Cost-Effective Alternative to Cable
IPTV is typically more affordable than traditional cable or satellite services, offering extensive content options at a lower price.
Technical Infrastructure
IPTV normally requires the use of a set-top box, which receives the encoded television content in the MPEG transport stream via IP multicast, and converts the packets to be watched on a TV set or other kind of display. It is distinct from over-the-top (OTT) services, which are based on a direct one-to-one transmission mechanism.
IP Enables the “Triple Play” – All website and email traffic travels in IP packets, and voice has become almost all IP based (see VoIP). By adding TV over IP, a data-voice-video “triple play” service can be offered over the same network infrastructure.
Market Adoption
IPTV broadcasts started gaining usage during the 2000s alongside the rising use of broadband-based internet connections. It is often provided bundled with internet access services by ISPs to subscribers and runs in a closed network.
IPTV has found success in some regions: for example in Western Europe in 2015, pay IPTV users overtook pay satellite TV users. IPTV is also used for media delivery around corporate and private networks.
References Used
1. Wikipedia – Internet Protocol Television
URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_Protocol_television
2. PCMag Encyclopedia – IPTV Definition
URL: https://www.pcmag.com/encyclopedia/term/iptv
3. Simple English Wikipedia – IPTV
URL: https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/IPTV
4. Broadband TV News – IPTV Industry News
URL: https://www.broadbandtvnews.com/